The List: 16 May 1997 (Issue 305)

Lipstick and lingerie, designer dresses and stilettos. These are definitely a few of man’s favourite things, but are they just as popular with women?

Female Perversions tells the story of Eve (Tilda Swinton), a successful New York attorney who is experiencing an identity crisis, since she relies heavily on cosmetic props for her confidence. As she moulds her appearance and behaviour to conform to a female stereotype, the women around her are busy perverting this model: a feminist kleptomaniac, a lesbian psychiatrist and a sullen teenage tombOy. Pressing family obligations require Eve to travel from the civilised city to the barren desert, and in doing so, she finds

herself on a Journey of self-discovery, aided by disturbing flashbacks to her

Directed by Susan Streitfield and featuring a female-dominated cast, a mouth- watering visual banquet of colourful symbolism and a tender, honest performance from Swinton, this is an empowering women's film, but with a title like Female Perversions, it Wlll no doubt pull the men too. (Beth Williams)

I Edinburgh Fi/mhouse from Fri 23 May

Walking And Talking

(15) 86 mins *** *

Writer-director Nicole Holofcener’s wise and witty look at the absurdities of human relationships will have you laughing out loud in embarrassed recognition. At its core is the friendship between childhood pals Catherine Keener and Anne Heche, a bond sorely tested when the latter decides to marry her boyfriend (Todd Field). This decision leaves her chum feeling very solo indeed, and much at the mercy of a messed-up old flame (Liev Schrieber) and the faintly disturbed video-store geek (wonderful Kevin Corrigan) she briefly dates. As this parade of neuroses and

s‘ .e‘

Catherine Keener and Liev Schreiber

insecurities passes before our eyes, what’s remarkable is not the slickness of the one-liners, but how much Holofcener (and indeed her wholly marvellous cast) seem to get under the skin of these characters. By the end of the movie, you feel you could meet them for coffee afterwards. Really, it's that VlVld and alive. So even if it's only on for a couple of days, do try to see this utter charmer. You'll be talking about it for ages. (Trevor Johnston)

l Glasgow Film Theatre, Tue 20/Wed 27 May

26 THE lIST iii—W) May 1997

Martin Donovan in Flirt

Flirt

(15) 80 mins ‘k k t

The Hal Hartley hallmarks which characterise films Such as Trust, Sirriple Men andAmateur receive another airing in the director's new film, Flirt With a theme-and-variation structure, Flirt starring Martin Donovan, DWIght Ewell and Bill Sage is centered around a single situation, illustrated through three separate stories In each, a character is given an ultimatum by their lover, and has one and a half hours to reach a conclusion as to whether there is any future for their TelathltSlilt),

While amusing cameo appcuirances from Hartley regulars titillate the

audience, the rhythmic dialogue, tightly choreographed action and colourful characterisation combine to inject the film With a distinctive musical and Visual Vibrancy. Flirt's exploration of the changing dynamics of the same situation in three different milieux is an interesting exercise in itself, but the rich entertainment value of the film stems most strongly from the ingenious manner in which Hartley applies his distinctive directorial style. (Beth Williams)

L I Glasgow Film Theatre, Thurs 22—»Sun 25 May

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Blackboard jungle: Jon Lovitz in High School High

High School High (15) 89 mins 3k

Jon Lowtz -- frequently tipped as the next Saturday Night Live star to make it big in the movies — stars as the dim- witted son of a respected private school headmaster, who takes a job at an inner city school in order to fulfil his earnest and well intentioned desire to educate, But he is the one who doesn't learn his lessons at the impossibly tough Marion Barry High School, run Wllll a rod of iron by Mrs Doyle (Louise Fletcher) and overrun by the volatile mix of nutters, psychos and thugs that make up its student body. Lovrtz however, sees hope in one student

(Mekhi Phifer) who has a keen mind behind his tough facade.

Not that keen, otherwrse he wouldn’t be in this lame movre, which makes the fatal error of sticking closely to what we might (for the purposes of argument) call a plot, rather than the freewheeling gagfests that the writers — who gave us the Airplane! and Naked Gun movies — specialise ll). Perhaps the mistake was in spoofing a film (Dangerous Minds) rather than a genre, but that ignores the fact that even when there are comedic opportunities, they are telegraphed, botched or just banal. The thought persists that if this film was a dog it would be shot. (Anwar Brett)

their relationship proceeds from the carnal to the familiar, Marie enlists Jeannot as he: pimp, her eyes firmly fixed on a surrogate marriage relationship For Jeannot, on the other hand, it's a new beginning for an erratic life that xii?! not change easily With Alon lr'cvi‘mn, She: appears to he sounding .i warning to the innocents of the world, it is a lesson, however, that is l|l\(‘l\,’ to demancl stamina from its audience. Blier fans will know what to expect, but those less accustomed to his roundabout ways may find it difficult to take. (Andrew l‘ulveit I Ecl/nhincjli (amen lm'it F7123 May, Glasgow Film Theatre from Fri 30 May.